Bluelug NITTO FW30 power stem or similar

[Russell Duncan]

The Nitto FW30 by Bluelug looks like exactly what I need for a build. Does anyone know if this is stocked by anyone in the USA? The shipping cost from Japan for this one item essentially doubles the price of the stem.

Russell Duncan

Leverett, MA

[Johnny Alien]

I bought one last year (I think) and there was no other source. They are very similar to the Nitto MT-54S which also has to be purchased from Japan but might come out a little cheaper? Rivendell has most of their faceplatters in stock but I think they all fail at being way to tall. I don't get having long headtubes, a stem with an upward angle, AND a long as all get out stem to be used with bars that also have an uprise. I had problems that I couldn't bury them enough to be useful. Hence why I went with the MT-54S and the Blue Lug stem. I love both of them but the Blue Lug is a touch better for options. How much does the blue lug one come out to these days?

[Brent B]

https://the-inconvenience-store.com/collections/blue-lug/products/nitto-fw30-power-stem-dull?variant=45307626946877  

For $84 before tax and shipping.

BUT at Blue Lug FW30's final price at checkout is $82.89 ($57.60 + $25.29 shipping to Michigan). The very similar Rivendell Nitto TIG Faceplater is $128 before shipping or taxes, and around $147 after. The MT-54S Johnny mentioned can be bought from Alex's Cycle in Japan for $82, plus also probably-very-expensive shipping. So unless shipping costs way more to where you're at, it seems like a better deal to buy from BL! 

As far as I can tell, anyone who imports Blue Lug stuff to the USA marks it up enough that it's only really sensible to buy small soft goods like the safety triangles from an importer to dodge the shipping cost, and that's only if you're buying one or two items. Nitto stuff especially seems to be at least a bit cheaper if you buy straight from Blue Lug. The only problem I have with buying from BL is that when I do, I keep adding more stuff to my order because they carry too many unique & amazing things.  :)

And I agree the Riv stems are way too tall unless you need extraordinarily high bars!

-Brent